Prince Charles took to the stage to deliver Hamlet's famous 'To be or not to be' line tonight as part of a gala marking the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death.

The Prince of Wales made a surprise appearance during the star-studded event at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

A host of actors, including Benedict Cumberbatch, David Tennant, Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench, debated how to deliver the iconic line during the comedy sketch, before Charles walked on stage and asked: 'Might I have a word?'

There was a dramatic pause before he delivered the words: 'To be, or not to be: that is the question'.

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Prince Charles shares a joke with Dame Judi Dench and David Suchet backstage following the performance of Shakespeare Live! from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

A host of actors, including Dame Judi Dench, David Tennant, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sir Ian McKellen, debated how to deliver the 'To be or not to be' line during the gala at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon

The Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall backstage at the event in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Prince Charles is President of the Royal Shakespeare Company

The Shakespeare Live! event, which was broadcast on BBC2 and at more than 350 cinemas across the country, also included appearances from Helen Mirren, Rory Kinnear. Al Murray and Tim Minchin, as well as dancers from the Royal Ballet.

Charles, who is the president of the Royal Shakespeare Company, rehearsed in secret with Sir Ian before tonight's extravaganza.

The Prince turned to the Bard earlier this week when paying tribute to his mother on her 90th birthday, using an edited passage from the play Henry VIII in a radio message broadcast over the BBC World Service.

Earlier today, Charles visited the Shakespeare's former home in Stratford-upon-Avon and laid a wreath at his grave at the Holy Trinity Church.

Thousands of well-wishers from around the world gathered at Shakespeare's birthplace to celebrate the playwright's legacy on the 400th anniversary of his death.

A theatrical parade through Stratford-upon-Avon involved singing, dancing and riotous celebration as more than 10,000 people paid homage to the Bard, who was born and died on April 23.

The titans of the acting world came together for the event: Left, Benedict Cumberbatch and Paapa Essiedu and right, Dame Helen Mirren and Dame Judi Dench

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Visitors then donned thousands of Shakespeare face-masks which had been handed out.

The mood struck a more celebratory note with the appearance of the 12-piece Wendell Brunious Band from Louisiana who shuffled and shimmied along the parade route with a New Orleans-flavoured flavoured jazz procession.

Band leader Andrew LeDuff said the group, including members of New Orleans' Tulane University, had jumped at the chance to mark Shakespeare's global impact and 'celebrate his life'.

The Queen of the acting world and the Prince of Wales: A lively Prince Charles joined Dame Judi Dench on stage

The Prince of Wales took the time to meet Paapa Essiedu and several other delighted cast members following the performance

The Duchess of Cornwall meets cast members backstage. The couple appeared thrilled to be involved in this year's landmark anniversaryof the Bard's death

Meeting the cast: Shakespeare Live! from the Royal Shakespeare Company marked the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death

Seasoned professionals Harriet Walter, Sir Ian McKellen and David Tennant thrilled their royal guests and audience members

Thousands of well-wishers had gathered at Shakespeare's hometown to celebrate the playwright's legacy

Students of Stratford-upon-Avon schools wore masks and carried flowers as they watched the procession go through the town

Actors performed excerpts of a Shakespeare play in the grounds of his birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon earlier today

The Prince of Wales laid a wreath at Shakespeare's grave at the Holy Trinity Church in the town in honour of the playwright

A bier bearing a floral tribute to the playwright was wheeled through the town. There were quieter moments of reflection on Shakespeare's life and success to kick off a weekend of events marking the occasion

Students of the Croft Preparatory School held flowers and flags for the celebrations. The crowds were asked to play their parts by tossing sprigs of rosemary 'for remembrance'

A group of masked women joined the festivities as other visitors donned thousands of Shakespeare face masks which had been handed out

Civil dignitaries and local clergy processed through the streets. One Shakespeare fan said: 'The great thing about Shakespeare is he's relevant today - he's very quotable'

Geraldine Collinge, director of events and exhibitions at the RSC, said the weekend celebration was a chance to remember the impact the playwright

One man wore a full Shakespeare costume complete with Elizabethan ruff for the celebrations, carrying a copy of his complete works

The parade featured civic dignitaries, local schoolchildren, musicians and performers, and a centrepiece ceremony with the unfurling of a birthday flag

Drummer Gerald French added: 'We came to do a New Orleans jazz funeral for Shakespeare as he was one of the few people to be born and die the same day, so he gets a special procession.'

Spectator Jane Haigh, who had travelled from Coventry with friend Janice Bobby, said she wanted to be present to mark 'a wonderful legacy'.

Ms Bobby added: 'The great thing about Shakespeare is he's relevant today - he's very quotable, and his plays can be interpreted so widely.'

Playing a key role in this year's landmark anniversary is the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), whose grand Stratford theatre on the banks of the River Avon continues to stage the Bard's plays in sell-out performances in a testament to his ongoing popularity.

The Prince embraces the hugely talented British actor Paapa Essiedu, as they leave the stage with Sir Ian McKellen

Prince Charles jokes with singer and songwriter Rufus Wainwright and other cast members - and the group couldn't be having more fun

David Suchet and Dame Judi Dench joined their fellow performers as they celebrated Shakespeare's legacy in theatre, music, opera and ballet

Spectator Jane Haigh, who had travelled from Coventry with friend Janice Bobby, said she wanted to be present to mark 'a wonderful legacy'

The RSC director of events added: 'I think in this country we forget so many of the words we use, so many of the expressions and things we talk about have come from Shakespeare'

Members of the public wearing Shakespeare masks carry bunches of flowers as they watch the parade, while one man films the event

Spectators gathered outside the Bard's birthplace as actors performed speeches from the plays in traditional Elizabethan costumes

Later tonight, a star-studded gala of performances will be performed at the riverside Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Geraldine Collinge, director of events and exhibitions at the RSC, said the weekend celebration was a chance to remember the impact the playwright, who was baptised in the town on April 26 1564, had on the English language.

Ms Collinge said: 'He is so much part of what we do every day.

'I think in this country we forget so many of the words we use, so many of the expressions and things we talk about have come from Shakespeare, like 'all that glistens isn't gold' or 'neither a borrower or a lender be', so some of the things you just say all the time come from Shakespeare.'